Beschreibung:

Autograph document signed by one of John Bell Hood's staff officers, detailing the ruined state of the artillery following the disastrous campaign and defeat at the Battle of Nashville.
Tombigee River, AL: 23 January 1865. 1 p. tabular report with a transmittal letter on verso (405 x 328 mm). Condition : light toning, professionally deacidified and encapsulated. a detailed report on the condition of the artillery of the army of tennessee following its return from hood's disastrous tennessee campaign. After inspecting all the artillery units present in the three corps of the army, Major Bryan here records in a table the aggregate number of troops, the effective number of troops, the number of officers, and the number of guns, caissons, limbers, wagons, forges, ambulances, serviceable and unserviceable horses, mules, shoes, pants, jackets, drawers, socks, shirts, and blankets present for each battery. Bryan's table provides totals for each corps and for the army as a whole, also commenting upon the condition of the guns and caissons present, indicating the names of the commanders of corps, battalions, and batteries. Below the table Bryan adds a paragraph summary of his findings: "The above shows 23 companies… 13 have no guns whatever, the other 10 Co's having but 29 guns (20 Napoleons, 5 rifles, 4 howitzers), sufficient for 2 battalions & 1 odd battery. But in the whole there are only serviceable horses enough to equip one (1) battery & serviceable horses which if used would equip two batteries. This report does not include one battalion from Lee's and another from Cheatham's Corps, making 6 Co' sent to Macon, Ga. under Major Jno. W. Johnston." The two battalions commanded by Maj. Johnston, which are mentioned at the end of this report, were the only units with guns and horses in good enough condition to be viable for active service following the Franklin-Nashville campaign. In the letter of transmittal on verso, Bryan adds more information on the state of the artillery corps. He states that, while in dire want of horses, clothing, and supplies, the men were in "good health" and "considering the circumstances, in good spirits." In all, they were "less destitute" than the infantry and maintained "superior" discipline. He also noted that while "many are clamorous for furloughs … desertions are rare." A dramatic and stark assessment of the state of Hood's ruined army following his daring yet disastrous campaign in Tennessee. That effort was a miscalculated risk to cut Sherman's supply lines and prevent his advancement from Atlanta to Savannah. In the end, Hood realized neither end. Hood began his campaign with 39,000 effectives losing over half that number in the ensuing battles. In November 1864, the Army of Tennessee had 124 guns at its disposal, but at the end there were a mere 29. Hood had already resigned his command on 13 January - ten days prior to this report.